Diverticulitis Flare-Up Symptoms

Dominique Brooks

About the Author:

Dominique Brooks

Dominique Brooks has been a medical editor for over 10 years. She has worked in medical education for physicians, nurses and pharmacists as well as consumers. She started writing business articles for Work.com in 2008 and health articles online in 2009. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama and a Doctor of Medicine from Vanderbilt University.

Diverticular disease affects approximately 30 million Americans each year, according to the Rochester Health website. Diverticulosis occurs when little pockets, which are known as diverticula, form along the colon wall. When these pockets get inflamed or infected, the condition is called diverticulitis. A flare-up of diverticulitis can include a variety of symptoms and, if severe enough, may require hospitalization.

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Abdominal Pain

One symptom of a flare-up of diverticulitis is abdominal pain. The patient may feel sudden pain in the lower left part of the abdomen, according to MayoClinic.com. In some cases, the pain may start out as a mild one and then gradually increase over several days.

Fever

The symptom fever is also associated with diverticulitis as well. The fever results from the infection of the pockets in the colon; this requires treatment with antibiotics, according to the U.S. Pharmacist website. In more severe diverticulitis cases, the fever may be higher than 101 degrees F because of a more serious colon infection, which may require hospitalization with IV antibiotics.

Urinary Problems

According to the National Health Service, some patients may develop urinary problems like urinary frequency and pain during urination. As noted on the Cleveland Clinic website, the location of the bladder near the sigmoid section of the colon may be the cause of the urinary symptoms. These symptoms only occur in a few patients.

Nausea and Vomiting

Another symptom of a diverticulitis flare-up includes nausea and vomiting, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Severe nausea and vomiting with abdominal distension may suggest a more significant complication of diverticulitis, such as a bowel obstruction.

Change in Bowel Habits

Patients with a diverticulitis flare-up may present with symptoms of either diarrhea or constipation, as noted on the Cleveland Clinic website. Some patients have bouts of constipation followed by bouts of diarrhea.

Bleeding

Diverticulitis may cause gastrointestinal bleeding, which can be severe. As noted on the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website, a blood vessel in a diverticulum bursts; these bleedings might be severe. Sometimes the bleeding may stop on its own, but sometimes a colonoscopy may be needed to find the vessel and stop the bleeding.